42nd session of the UPR Working Group - Review of Pakistan

President,

Sweden acknowledges that Pakistan has made progress in terms of enacting legislation pertaining to safety of journalists, torture, violence against women on a regional level, as well as in reducing the scope of the death penalty, and the de facto moratorium on executions. Sweden stresses the need to ensure that relevant legislation is implemented and enforced. Serious concerns remain, inter alia, regarding continued attacks and threats against journalists, violence against women, and child marriages.

Sweden would like to make the following recommendations:

1. Enact federal legislation on domestic violence and enforce effective implementation of existing legislation related to violence against women.
2. Establish the Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals without delay to reduce the impunity for crimes against journalists.
3. Revise the Child Marriage Restrain Act to set the minimum age of marriage at 18 across Pakistan.

Thank you.